Bubbles coming from radiator

[ph0en1x]

Ok so my buddy has a 92 lx and the coolent is just disappearing. I was thinking since the coolent is bubbling in the radiator when its running is a sign of a popped head gasket. I've checked the oil and it's fine. There is a very faint sign of smoke from the exhaust when its reved high. Other than that theres no smoke. If there is a leak I can't find it anywhere.
Besides that I'm stumped at the fact that I did a compression test on the motor and with the motor that has over 220,000 miles on it came up with the readings: 1-220, 2-190, 3-200, 4-185. In my repair manual it says the standard is supposed to be at 186psi.

Are the compression readings normal? Is the coolent bubbling a sign of a popped headgasket?

[DarkRidgeRacer]

You probably have a cracked coolant line somewhere. Check the hoses and lines.

[HondaFan81]

Perhaps the internals of the engine are fine in that the oil and coolant are not mixing. However, there still could be a leak within the coolant system itself and that is where the bubbles are coming from as it is getting air in the system.

Either do a visual check on the entire coolant system, the ends of the radiator hoses may be dry rotted, common point is the end of the lower radiator hose that attaches to the radiator, it can seep out and you lose radiator coolant as you drive. Another option is to pressure test the coolant system to force a leak and locate it.

[Fake Thug]

Yeah pressure test for sure. External leaks can introduce air into the system. So you would have to fix the leak and bleed the system.Bubbling is definetly a sign of a leaking HG. If you get no leaks with the motor off, then its internal most likely.With the engine cool/warm but not hot, hook up the pressure tester.

Start the engine and pump the tester to the system maxium. Watch the gauge. If it holds pressure , you are in the clear. If its drops slowly its a HG leak, if its drops fast shut off the motor and replace the HG.


Also those compression numbers are off. Remember engine warm, ignition/fuel disabled and WOT. If your HG is leaking though, a pressure test will let you know.

[ph0en1x]

Awesome guys thx! I'll post what I find out.

[ph0en1x]

Ok well I got a cooling pressure system tester and tested the car and it seemed like it was fine and found where the leak was. Well I tough we found all of the leaks anyway. So we fixed them and started up the car to let it run and something told me to look at the oil so I did and guess what..... Milk chocolate.... Now my buddy is going to have the head gasket replaced. Hopefully he has the head reserfaced while its off. Oh well can't win them all. Thanks for all the input.

[wed3k]

hopefully? he has too...otherwise you'll end up just blowing another HG.

UNLESS, the head is cracked then you wouldnt blow the headgasket but rather just keep milkshaking.

id suggest flushing the cooling system, oil in the cooling system is way bad for it (im sure some of it got into it)